Transforming Government: How Business Strategies Create Unicorn Leadership Transforming government by applying innovative business strategies is no easy feat—but Darren Elder is a true unicorn leader making it happen. In this episode, Darren, the Chief Administrative Officer of a Saskatchewan municipality, shares his unique approach to running government like a business, supplementing tax dollars through creative ventures, and leading with a high-performance mindset. Darren’s journey begins with his farm upbringing, where resourcefulness and problem-solving were essential. This practical mindset shaped his leadership philosophy in government—focusing on cash flow, strategic growth, and operational efficiency, typically seen in the private sector. He discusses the creation and rapid growth of Swift Net, a municipally owned internet provider that expanded from 500 to 5,000 customers in just 30 days. This venture exemplifies how government can innovate and serve its community in new ways, providing essential services while reducing taxpayer burden. The conversation covers the challenges of managing growth and scaling high performance within a government context. Darren shares how understanding employee capacity and leveraging talent optimization through TRAITS assessments helped him build a productive, motivated workforce. He also emphasizes the importance of placing people in roles suited to their strengths, avoiding wasted potential—illustrated by his story of transitioning a Fire Chief into a different role better aligned with his skills. Listeners will gain insight into the traits Darren values in high performers across various organizational levels—from assertiveness and flexibility in management to sociability in frontline roles. Darren’s approach highlights the blend of entrepreneurial spirit and public service dedication needed to create lasting positive impact in government. For leaders, HR professionals, and public sector innovators, this episode offers practical strategies for transforming government by adopting business-minded leadership and talent management. Transforming Government with Business Strategies Show Notes : 0:00 Have you ever met a unicorn? 2:30 Being creative with limited capital 4:20 The beginnings of Swiftnet 6:30 Running government like a business and investor 10:45 How does any organization best deal with growth and reaching high performance? 13:00 Moving great people into the right roles; Innovation wherever it exists 15:00 What to look for in higher performers 16:00 Various levels and needs in an organization 17:45 Stop putting reeboks on turtles 20:50 When communicating with people… Start with understanding who they are 23:30 Reducing latency is key! Resources & Links Compare Report Launch Event Introduction to Communicator Training [email protected] Swift-Net.ca Connect with TRAITS: 🔗 Connect with us on LinkedIn 📸 Follow us on Instagram 📰 Read our BLOG 📩 Sign up to our Newsletter

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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